Method of trailer safety control, and trailer safety device and system using same

Abstract

A method of trailer safety control is to be implemented by a trailer safety system that includes a trailer safety device. The trailer safety device includes a processing unit, a charging unit, a state monitor, and a wireless communication unit that are connected to the processing unit, a battery that is connected to the charging unit, and a breakaway switch that is connected to the battery. The method includes, when the charging unit receives an external power supply from an external power supply terminal, the processing unit controlling the charging unit to charge the battery using the external power supply, and the processing unit operating in an active mode that includes operations of, establishing a wireless network connection with an electronic device, controlling the state monitor to monitor trailer states, and transmitting an alert notification to the electronic device when a trailer is separated from a tow vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of trailer safety control, the method to be implemented by a trailer safety system that includes a trailer safety device adapted to be mounted on a trailer,
 the trailer safety device including a processing unit, a charging unit, a state monitor and a wireless communication unit that are electrically connected to the processing unit, a battery that is electrically connected to the charging unit, and a breakaway switch that is electrically connected to the battery,   the breakaway switch having a non-conducting state and a conducting state, being caused to switch from the non-conducting state to the conducting state when the trailer is separated from a tow vehicle, and, when the breakaway switch is in the conducting state, providing electric power from the battery to an electronic braking system that is mounted on the trailer for activating the electronic braking system,   the method comprising:
 when the charging unit receives an external power supply from an external power supply terminal, the processing unit controlling the charging unit to charge the battery using the external power supply, and the processing unit operating in an active mode that includes operations of, 
 establishing a wireless network connection with an electronic device via the wireless communication unit, 
 controlling the state monitor to monitor trailer states that include a trailer connection status indicating a status of connection of the trailer with the tow vehicle, and 
 transmitting an alert notification to the electronic device via the wireless communication unit when the trailer connection status indicates that the trailer is separated from the tow vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trailer states further include a battery status indicating an amount of electric power currently remaining in the battery; and
 wherein the active mode further includes an operation of the processing unit providing the trailer states to the electronic device via the wireless communication unit to make the electronic device display the trailer states.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in a case that the charging unit does not receive the external power supply from the external power supply terminal but receives a solar power supply from a solar panel, the processing unit controlling the charging unit to charge the battery using the solar power supply from the solar panel, and the processing unit operating in a sleeping mode that includes an operation of cutting off the wireless network connection with the electronic device.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the trailer safety system further including the electronic device, the method further comprising:
 the electronic device determining whether an alert requirement is met, and storing a current position of the electronic device as an alert location and outputting the alert location when the electronic device determines that the alert requirement is met, and   wherein the alert requirement is that the electronic device loses the wireless network connection with the processing unit when the processing unit is operating in the active mode.   
     
     
         5 . A trailer safety device adapted to be mounted on a trailer, the trailer including an electronic braking system, said trailer safety device comprising:
 a processing unit adapted to be wirelessly connected to an electronic device;   a charging unit electrically connected to said processing unit;   a state monitor electrically connected to said processing unit;   a wireless communication unit electrically connected to said processing unit;   a battery electrically connected to said charging unit; and   a breakaway switch electrically connected to said battery, having a non-conducting state and a conducting state, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electronic braking system of the trailer, said breakaway switch being caused to switch from the non-conducting state to the conducting state when the trailer is separated from a tow vehicle, thereby providing electric power from said battery to the electronic braking system of the trailer for activating the electronic braking system,   wherein said processing unit is configured to, when said charging unit receives an external power supply from an external power supply terminal,
 control said charging unit to charge said battery using the external power supply, and 
 operate in an active mode, and 
   wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the active mode,
 establish a wireless network connection with the electronic device via said wireless communication unit, 
 control said state monitor to monitor trailer states that include a trailer connection status indicating a status of connection of the trailer with the tow vehicle, and 
 transmit an alert notification to the electronic device via said wireless communication unit when the trailer connection status indicates that the trailer is separated from the tow vehicle. 
   
     
     
         6 . The trailer safety device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the trailer states further include a battery status indicating an amount of electric power currently remaining in said battery; and
 wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the active mode, provide the trailer states to the electronic device via said wireless communication unit to make the electronic device display the trailer states.   
     
     
         7 . The trailer safety device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to, in a case that said charging unit does not receive the external power supply from the external power supply terminal but receives a solar power supply from a solar panel,
 control said charging unit to charge said battery using the solar power supply from the solar panel, and   operate in a sleeping mode; and   wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the sleeping mode, cut off the wireless network connection with the electronic device.   
     
     
         8 . A trailer safety system, comprising:
 a trailer safety device adapted to be mounted on a trailer, the trailer including an electronic braking system, said trailer safety device including
 a processing unit adapted to be wirelessly connected to an electronic device, 
 a charging unit electrically connected to said processing unit, 
 a state monitor electrically connected to said processing unit, 
 a wireless communication unit electrically connected to said processing unit, 
 a battery electrically connected to said charging unit, and 
 a breakaway switch electrically connected to said battery, having a non-conducting state and a conducting state, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electronic braking system of the trailer, said breakaway switch being caused to switch from the non-conducting state to the conducting state when the trailer is separated from a tow vehicle, thereby providing electric power from said battery to the electronic braking system of the trailer for activating the electronic braking system, 
   wherein said processing unit is configured to, when said charging unit receives an external power supply from an external power supply terminal,
 control said charging unit to charge said battery using the external power supply, and 
 operate in an active mode, and 
   wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the active mode,
 establish a wireless network connection with the electronic device via said wireless communication unit, 
 control said state monitor to monitor trailer states that include a trailer connection status indicating a status of connection of the trailer with the tow vehicle, and 
 transmit an alert notification to the electronic device via said wireless communication unit when the trailer connection status indicates that the trailer is separated from the tow vehicle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The trailer safety system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the trailer states further include a battery status indicating an amount of electric power currently remaining in said battery; and
 wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the active mode, provide the trailer states to the electronic device via said wireless communication unit to make the electronic device display the trailer states.   
     
     
         10 . The trailer safety system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to, in a case that said charging unit does not receive the external power supply from the external power supply terminal, but receives a solar power supply from a solar panel,
 control said charging unit to charge said battery using the solar power supply from the solar panel, and   operate in a sleeping mode; and   wherein said processing unit is further configured to, when operating in the sleeping mode, cut off the wireless network connection with the electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . The trailer safety system as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the electronic device that is configured to determine whether an alert requirement is met, and to store a current position of the electronic device as an alert location and output the alert location when the electronic device determines that the alert requirement is met, and
 wherein the alert requirement is that the electronic device loses the wireless network connection with said processing unit when said processing unit is in the active mode.